Typewriting-machine



H. K. HENRY.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED um. 1a. 1919.

" 1,387,543; Patented Aug. 16,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

fi g

H. K. HENRY.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18. 1918.

Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

a SHEETSSHEET 2.

H. K. HENRY.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. I8. 1918.

Patented Aug. 16,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Rh Q UNITED STA'l l ilS PATENT OFFICE.

HUBERT K. HENRY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TO

REX TYPEWRITER COMPANY INCORPORATED, OF FUND D CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

U LAC, WISCONSIN, A

TYPEWRITING-MACHINE.

Application filed January 18, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUBERI K. HENRY, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Detroit, county of lVayne, and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewriting-Machines. ofnvhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to typewriting machines and more particularly tothe case shift mechanism for bringing any one of a number of differentsets of type into operation. The invention seeks to provide a simple andeffective case shift mechanism more particularly adapted for effectingthe vertical shift of a frame which supports the paper carriage in afront strike typewriter having type bars, each provided with two andpreferably with three type. The 1nvention consists in the features ofimprovement hereinafter set forth, illustrated in the preferred form inthe accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in theappended claims. I

In the drawings Figure l is a longitudinal section of a typewritingmachine to wl ich the present improved shift mechanism is applied. withthe parts shown 1n normal position. Figs. 1 and 1 are detail sections onlines a and b of Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section with the partsshown in shifted position. F ig. 3 is a partial view snowing anotherposition of the shift mechanism. Fig. 3 is a detail section on line a of3. Fig". 4 is a rear view of the shift mechanism. tlie side plates ofthe machine being shown in section.

The machine. frame comprises side plates 1.0 preferably formed ofsheetmetal. and connected at the lower front and rear corners bytransverse bars 11 and 12, and at their upper rear corners by atransverse rod 13. A vertically disposed, type bar support or segment14. which is preferably quite heavy and formed of cast metal, extendsbetween the side plates somewhat in advance of the rear edges thereofand with the upper portion of the segment adjacent the upperSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

Serial No. 212,444.

edges of the side plates the segment being securely fastened to the sideplates by screws 15. The type bar support is provided on its rear facewith a strengthening flange or flanges 16 and on its front face with aforwardly projecting segmental rib 17. This rib is provided with aseries of radial slots which receive the rear ends of the type bars 18and, on its under side, the rib is provided with a seat for the type barpivot rod 19.

In normal position, the type bars extend forwardly from the type barsegment and their forward ends are supported upon a segmental rest 20which in turn, is carried by a transverse bar or plate 21 that extendsbetween. and is secured to the side plates 10. Horizontal key levers 22are pivoted between their ends upon a series of transverse pivotal rods23 and are provided with keys 2-2 at their forward ends. The downturnededges of the transverse bar or plate 21 form guiding comb bars 25 forthe key levers and the rear ends of the latter are connected by links 26to the type bars at points adjacent and in front of the type bar pivotrod 19. Each type bar is provided with a head 27 carrying three type andthe type bars or key levers are provided with suitable return springs(not shown) for holding the bars in normal position. For the sake ofclearness. only a single type bar and key lever are shown but it will beunderstood that the type bars are operated by the key levers to projectthe type thereon upwardh and rearwardly to a common printing point atthe front of a paper supporting platen. The paper supporting platenor'cylinder 28 is journaled between the end plates 29 of a papercarriage. the plates 29 in the form shown being integral with andupturned from a transverse horizontal plate 30 which forms the main bodyportion of the paper carriage. The carriage is transversely movable asusual, on a suitable support or bed and, in the present instance. it ismounted upon a vertically movable shift frame.

In the preferred construction shown, the

' vided with a strengtheiiing strip 39 secured shift frame comprises apair of uprights 31, which are preferably formed of flat bars of sheetmetal and are provided at their upper ends with rearwardly projectingarms 32,the arms and uprights having inturned flanges 33 at their upperedges. The carriage supporting bed or track 3% comprises a transversesheet metal bar and rests upon and is secured to the rear portions ofthe flanges 33 by screws The transverse body portion or plate 30 of thecarriage and the carriage body or track 34 are provided at their forwardportions with race-ways 36 and 3 for anti-friction balls 38. Thedownturned' rear edge of the carriage plate 30 is pruthereto by a seriesof screws 40 and a roller 41 on thecentral strip engages the upturnedrear edge 42 of the plate 34. Front and rear clips 43 and M fixed to thecarriage bed engage respectively with a ball race 36 at the front edgeof the carriage and with the bar 39' at the rear edge and hold thecarriage in position upon the bed while permitting its horizontalmovement transversely of the machine.

' inner faces of the side plates 10 of the main frame and slightly infront of the type bar segment 14:. The upper portions of the uprightsare provided with vertical slots T5 and guide studs extend through theslots and abut against the inner-faces of the side plates 10, the studsbeing fixed to the side plates' by screws 47 and being preferablyprovided with anti-friction rollers 48 (see Fig. 1) journaled thereon.The vertical side edges of the guide slots l5 engage the rollers 48 andholdfthe upper portion of the vertical shift frame againstmovement in adirection longitudinally of the machine.

The lower ends of the uprights 31 are somewhat reduced in width, arebent in ivardly away from the'sidc plates 10 and are provided withnotches a9 which engage the ends of a transverse rod 50 which is carriedupon the rear ends of a pair of shift levers 51. These shift levers arearranged at op: posite sides of the machine adjacent the side plates 10and are fixed intermediate their ends upon transverse rock shaft 52, theends of which are journalcd in the side plates 10 of the machine frame.The rear ends of the shift levers loosely engage the transverse rea 50between pairs of collars 53 (see Fig. 4) which are fired to the rod byset screws Maud the forked lower ends of the uprights 31 engage theextreme outer ends of the rod 50' which project beyond the outercollars; transverse strengthening bar 55 extends between rear ends of.the shift levers 51 justin front of the rod 50,

- the ends of the bar being rigidly fixed to the levers preferably byreduced end portions 56 thereon extending through slots in the leversand upset as shown in Fig. l". A pair of counterbalancing springs 57 areconnected at their lower ends to the transverse bar and at their upperends with a pair of studs 58 which project forrrardly from the type barsegment 1.4. These springs partly counterbalance the weight of thevertically movable, carriage supportin' frame and aid in effecting thevertical shii tthereof.

To accurately guide the vertical. movement of the carriage supportingframe and securely hold it against tran... rse move ment, it is providedwith guiding means which engage the side plates 10 at points adjaccntand in rea-rof the type bar segment. For this purpose a pair ofdepending guide supporting plates 59 are t rovided. plates are preerably formed of sheet metal and are provided their upper ends withintegral rearwardly turned. flanges 60 which are'fixed to the flanges 33and to the carriage track or bed plate Set by the screws 35. .ln theconstruction shown, s acing strips 61 are interposed between the flanges60 and 33. "he guide supports 59 extend downwardly to a considerabledistance and the extreme lower ends thereof are connected by atransverse brace bar 62. Long guide shoes 63 are mounted on the supports59 by screws 64; and the upper and lower ends of the shoes are providedwith rollers 65 which engage the inner faces of the side plates 10 ofthe machine frame. The screws 6d extend through horizontal slots (36 inthe shoes and adjusting screws 6! extend through rearwardly projectingcars 68 on the inner edges of tie guide supports and tiese screws engagethe inner edges of'the guide shoes. By loosening the screws 64, theguide shoes 63 can be adjusted by the screws (32' to take up any lateralplay'or wear and the shoes can then be securely clamped in adjustedposition by tightening the screws (31%. i

1 The rollers on the upper and lower ends of the guide shoes engage thesine plates near the upper and lower ed es thereof and securely hold thevertically inov: ble shift frame against late vibration. The guide studsand rollers lo and d8 which engage the upper portions of the uprights31. or the vertically movahle shift frame and the shift levers whichengage the lower ends thereof, securely hold the frame against vibrationin longitudinal direction. In this way the frame is 'a curately held inposition and against vibion even when the earl e is at either end of itsmovement. It should also be noted that the portions of the side plates10 which cooperate with the guides of the vertically movable shift frameare located closely adjacent the heavy type bar plates. For this rec-sentheside pla es 10 These can be of lighter, cheaper construction thanwould otherwise be required. The arrangement is also such that byremoving the guidin studs 46, the vertically movable carriage supportingframe and the carriage thereon can be readily removed from the machinefor repairs or the like.

The carriage supporting frame and carriage are held in normal positionby gravity with the counter-balancing springs 57 under tension. In thisnormal position, a pair of stop lugs or ears 69 which project forwardlyfrom the upper portions of the guide supports 59 rest upon two stopsorewsTO which are adjustably threaded into the upper edge of the typebar segment 14. To effect the vertical shift, the forward ends of theshift levers are provided, preferably at each side of the machine, withtwo finger keys 71 and 72. The finger keys at the lefthand side of thekeyboard are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and those at the right-hand side ofthe keyboard in Fig. 3. The keys 71 are fixed to the upturned forwardends of the shift levers 51 and the keys 72 to the forwardly projectingarms of small bell cranks 73 that are connected by pivot studs 74: tothe upturned forward ends of the shift levers. The depending arms of thebell cranks are provided with outturned lugs 75 which extend betweenshoulders 76 and 77 formed on the front lower edges of the shift levers.Springs 78 coiled. about the pivot studs 7%.- and engaging the shiftlevers and bell cranks. hold the latter and the keys 72 in normalposition with the lugs 75 engaging the shoulders 76. The lower arms ofthe bell crank 73 are connected by rearwardly extending links 79 to twostop dogs 80 that are loosely mounted on the transverse rod 50 adjacentthe inner collars 53 thereon. These dogs are connected together by atransverse rod 81. and are provided with end portions and shoulders 2which cooperate with a pair of adjustable stop screws 83. The latter, asshown. are threaded into a pair of forwardly projecting lugs 84 formedupon the lower portion of the type bar segment 14.

Normally the vertically movable carriage supporting frame is inlowermost position as shown in Fig. 1 with the stop lugs 69 engagingupon the stop screws 70. and in this position the lower case type willbe brought to the printing point. The spring-held bell cranks T andlinks 79 normally hold the stop dogs 80 in their forward positions sothat, when either of the shift keys 71 is depressed, the verticallymovable frame and carriage thereon are raised until the shoulders 82engage the stops 83 as shown in Fig. 2. The paper carriage is thenraised to its highest position anchwhen the key levers and type bars areoperated, the figures and punctuation marks are brought to the printingpoint. If either one of the shift keys 72 is operated, the bell crank 73is turned about its pivot and the stop dogs 80, which are connected bythe cross rods 81, are shifted rearwardly until the lug 75 on the bellcrank lever 73 engages the shoulder 77 of the shift lever. The continueddownward pressure on the key '72 will then lift the carriage supportingframe and carriage in vertical direotion but, in such cases, the upperends of the stop dogs will engage the stops 83 and, as shown in Fig. 3,the paper carriage will then be arrested in intermediate position foreffecting the writing of capital or upper case letters. It is obviousthat the two sets of shift keys at opposite sides of the keyboardoperate alike and, if desired, those at one side may be dispensed with.

To lock the carriage supporting frame in shifted position, a lever 85 isconnected intermediate its ends by a pivot screw 86 to the side plate 10at the right hand side of the keyboard. This locking lever is providedat its upper end with a finger key 87 and at its lower end with a pairof locking lugs 88 which are arranged to cooperate with a stud 89 on theside of the adjacent shift lever 5i. Normally, the lower end of thelocking lever is held by a spring 90 against a stop pin 91. But when theshift mechanism is operated to move the paper carriage to its highest orto its intermediate position, the locking member can be shifted. by itskey to bring one of the two locking lugs into engagement with the stud89 and thereby hold the parts in shifted position. The lugs 88 areslightly undercut so that the spring 90 cannot withdraw them fromcngagwinent with the stud 8.) unless down ward pressure is exerted onone of the keys T1 and T2 or rearward. pressure on the key 87.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the details set forth. withoutdeparture from the essentials of the invention, as defined in theclaims.

I claim as my invention 1. In a front-strike typewriting machine, thecombination with a main frame. of a vertically shifting frame comprisinguprights having rcarwardly projecting arms at their outer ends, acarriage bed mounted on said arms. a platen carriage on said bed, a keyactuated rocking frame mounted in said main frame and connected at itsrear end to the lower ends of said uprights, guiding means on said mainframe engaging said uprights for holding said shifting frame againstmovement in fore-and-aft direction, and depending adjustable guide shocson said shifting frame and engaging said main frame to take up lateralplay in transverse direction, substantially as described.

2. In a front-strike typewriting machine, the combination with a mainframe, of a vertically shifting frame comprising flat sheet metal, sideuprights having, at their upper ends, integral rearwardly projectingarms provided with integral horizontal flanges at their upper edges, anda carriage bed fixed to said. flanges, means for vertically guiding theupper ends of said shift frame, and a key actuated rocking frame mountedin the lower portion of said main frame and pivotally connected at itsrear end to the lower ends of said uprights, substantially as described.

In a front strike typewriter, the combination with a main framecomprising side plates, of a rigid, vertically disposed type ar segmentfixed to and connecting said side plates, key actuated type bars pivotedon said support, a vertically shifting frame comprising side uprightsarranged in front of said support and having arms at their upper endsprojecting rearwardly over said support, a carriage bed mounted on saidarms, a platen carriage guided on said bed, means for guiding the upperends of said uprights, and a key actuated rocking frame mounted in thelower portion of said main frame and pivotally connected at its rear 7end to the lower ends of said uprights, substantially as described.

4. In a front-strike typewriter, a main frame comprising side plates, arigid, vertically disposed type bar segment fixed to said side plates, avertically shifting frame comprising side uprights arranged in front ofand adjacent said segment and having arms at their upper ends projectingrearwardly over said segment, a carriage bed connected to said arms, aplaten carriage mounted on said bed, means for guiding the upper ends ofsaid uprights, key controlled actuating means connected to the lowerends of said uprights, and guide shoes depending from said carriage bedin rear of said segment and engaging the side plates of said main frame.

5. In a front-strike typewriter, a main frame comprising side plates, arigid, verti cally disposed type bar segment fixed to said side plates,a vertically shifting frame comprising side uprights arranged in frontof and adjacent said segment and having arms at their upper endsprojecting rearwardly over said segment, a carriage bed connected tosaid arms, a platen carriage mounted on said bed, means for guiding theupper ends of said uprights, key controlled actuating means connected tothe lower ends of said uprights, guide supports fixed to said can riagebed and extending downwardly in rear of said segment, a cross braceconnecting the lower ends of said supports, and adjustable guide shoeson said supports engaging the side plates of the main frame.

6. In a front-strike typewriter, the combination with a main frame, of avertically shifting frame comprising side uprights and a carriage bed,guides on said main frame cooperating with said uprights for holdingsaid shifting frame against movement in fore-and-aft direction, keycontrolled actuating means connected to the lower ends of said uprights,and means for holding said shifting frame against movement in transversedirection, comprising braced guide supports depending from said carriagebed between the sides of the main frame and shoes adjustably mounted onsaid supports and having rollers at their upper and lower ends engagingthe sides of the main frame.

7 In a front-strike typewriter, the combination with a main frame and avertically shifting platen support, of a shift key lever pivoted in saidmain frame and connected at its rear end to said support, a normallyfixed adjustable stop arrangedadjacent the rear end of said lever toarrest the vertical movement thereof and of said platen sup port, ashiftable stop dog, a second shift key pivotally mounted on the forwardend of said shift lever, and a link connecting said shift key to saidshiftable dog, the latter arranged to cooperate in shifted position withsaid fixed stop to arrest the movement of said platen support in anintermediate position.

8. In a front-strike typewriter, the com bination with a frame, a.carriage and a vertically shifting frame for supporting said carriage,of a key controlled rocking frame pivotally mounted in said main frameand connected at its rear end to the lower end of said verticallyshifting frame, said rocking frame having a forwardly projecting armprovided with a key fixed thereto, a bell crank having a second keypivoted on the forward end of said arm, a pair of connected stop dogspivotally mounted on the rear end of said rocking frame and connected tosaid bell crank, and a pair of fixed stops with which said dogscooperate to variably limit the movement of said rocking and saidvertically shifting frames.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a main frame, a platenand a shiftable support for said platen, of a pivoted shift lever forsaid platen support hav ing a key at its forward end, a bell crankpivoted upon the forward end of said shift lever and having a secondshift key, said bell crank being spring held in normal position andhaving a limited independent movement on said shift lever, a pivotedstop on the rear end of said shift lever, a link connecting said stop tosaid bell crank, and a normally fixed stop cooperating with said pivotedstop to variably limit the movement of said shift lever and said platensupport.

10. In a front strike typewriter, the combination with a frame and avertically shifting platen support, of a shift key lever pivoted in saidframe and connected to said support, a stop member mounted at the rearend of said lever and bodily movable therewith, an auxiliary key pivotedon the forward end of said shift lever, a link connec tion between saidauxiliary key and said stog member, and a fixed stop arranged tocooperate with said stop member to variably limit the movement of saidlever and said vertically shiftable platen support.

11. in a front strike typewriter, the combination with a frame and avertically shiftable platen support. of a shift key lever pivoted insaid frame and connected to said support, a shiftable stepped stopmounted at the rear end of said lever and bodily movable therewith, anauxiliary shift key controllingsaid stepped stop, and a normally 'usablestop arranged to cooperate i n itaole stepped stop to variably movementof said vertically shiftable platen support.

connected at its rear end to the lower end of said vertically shiftableframe, said rocking frame having a forwardly projecting arm providedwith a shift key, a pair of connected stop dogs pivot-ally mounted on ierear end of said rocking frame, an auxliary shift for actuating saidrocking 1e and controlling said dogs, and a pair fixed stops with whichsaid dogs cooperte to variably limit the movement of said rocking andsaid vertically shiftable frames.

In a front-strike typewriter, the combination with a main frame, of avertically movable shift frame comprising side uprights and a transversecarriage bed between the upper ends of said uprights, a key actu atedrocking frame mounted in said main frame and pivotally connected at itsrear end to the lower ends of said uprights, guiding means on said mainframe engaging said uprights to hold said shift frame against movementin fore-and-aft direction, and depending adjustable guide shoes on saidshift frame and ngaging said main frame to tak up lateral play intransverse direction, substantially as described.

1%. in a front strike typewriter, a main frame comprising side plates, arigid vertically dispos l ype bar segment fixed to and connecting saidside plates at points in front of the rear edges thereof, a verticallymovable shift frame comprising side uprights and a transverse carriagebed. arranged above said segment, a key actuated rocking frame mountedin the lower portion of said main frame and having arms pivotallyconnected at their rear ends to the lower ends of said uprights, meansfor guiding the upper ends of said uprights, arranged to hold said shiftframe against movement in fore-andaft direction, and guide shoesdepending from said carriage and engaging the side plates of said mainframe at points adjacent said type bar segment.

15. In a double-shift, front-strike typewriter, the combination with amain frame, of a vertically movable, platen-supporting shift framehaving side uprights, a rocking frame mounted in said main frame andpivotally connected at its rear end to the lower ends of said uprights,main and auxiliary shift keys for moving said rocking frame and saidvertically movable shift frame, and stop devices arranged adjacent saidvertically movable shift frame and comprising a pair of normally fixed,adjustable stops, one at each side of the main frame, for determiningthe normal lowermost position of said shift frame, a second pair ofnormally fixed, adjustable stops, one at each side of the main frame,for determining the uppermost position of said shift frame, and a pairof shiftable stop dogs controlled by the auxiliary shift key andarranged to cooperate with said second pair of adjustable stops toarrest the movement of the shift frame in an intermediate position.

16. In a front-strike typewriter, a main frame comprising side plates, arigid, veriically disposed type bar segment fixed to and connecting saidside plates, a vertically movable shift frame comprising av carriage bedand side uprights arranged adjacent said segment, a rocking framemounted in said main frame and having arms pivotally connected at theirrear ends to the lower ends of said uprights, normally fixed adjustablestops mounted on said type bar segment for limiting the movement of saidshift frame, a shiftable stop dog arranged to cor'iperate with one ofsaid fixed stops to arrest said shift frame in an intermediate position,and actuating keys for said rocking frame and said stop do 17. In afront-strike typewriter a main frame, a vertically movable shift framecomprising side uprights and a transverse carriage bed extending betweenthe upper ends of said uprights, a platen carriage mounted on said bed,means for guiding the upper portion of said shift frame, a key actuatedrocking frame journaled in said main frame and having rearwardlyprojecting arms, and a rod extending between the rear ends of said arms,said rod having projecting end portions detachably and pivotally engagedby the lower ends of said uprights.

18. In a front-strike typewriter, a frame comprisizn sheet metal sideplates, front and rear transverse members connecting said side plates, atransverse, vertically disposed, rigid type bar support of cast metalconneoting said side plates in front of the rear tieelly movable shiftframe Whereon said ends thereof, upwardly and rearwardly bed isInountedendmeans cooperating With striking type bars pivotaiiy mountedon said said side plates for guiding said shift frame, 10 support, keylevers pivoted below said type said guiding 111621113 being arranged infront bars and operatively connected thereto, a and 'i-ear of andclosely adjacent said type carriage and carriage bed arranged above barsupport. 7

and in rear of said type bar support, a ver- HUBERT K. HENRY.

